Praline Meringue Torte

I’ve had my first date. With Tiablo, the Brazilian. I was running a couple of minutes late and he even sent me a text message making sure he wasn’t being stood-up. After the initial greeting we spent an hour in the downstairs part of the gym with all the bulky-blokes with rugby league sized thighs. […]

Vegan Crackers and…Mr Easy-On-The-Eye

That Alfie is involved in so many pursuits I’m being kept on my toes.  I need to stay fit, strong and energised.  Yesterday I dusted off my gym gear and paid a visit to my ‘charity’.  Having dropped Alfie off to early morning band practise (just another thing), I arrived at the time where the […]

A Christening Cake

A few days after Christmas we had the Christening of Em’s little boy, Freddie.  The Christening had been delayed to allow for it to be in Sydney and so sadly, he had outgrown the Christening gown that has been in our family for five generations.  But he did look very smart in a white shirt […]

Prosciutto Wrapped Turkey Breasts in Herb Butter

In December I hosted a dinner party where I cooked turkey breasts that had been brined, then had a herb butter rubbed under the skin, then wrapped in prosciutto to be roasted, then drizzled with a little maple syrup while being allowed to rest. I’ve decided this is the best way to cook turkey.  It […]

Dark-Chocolate and Sour-Cherry Panforte

One of the other Christmasy treats I made this season was this Sienese panforte.  I made this to serve after the Balmoral Carols when we were all back at our house and looking for something sweet to enjoy with a cup of tea or a glass of red. I do love panforte as it’s not […]

Sour-Cherry and Roasted-Almond White Christmas

On the last Saturday night before Christmas, we met up with a group of friends for the Balmoral Carols By Candlelight.   The plan was to arrive early, stake out some territory then have a picnic dinner before the carols began.  Everyone brought something savoury and then after the carols, they all came back to […]

Snowman Cake

Alfie is so skinny.  When he is in his swimsuit Arabella always says to him, ‘Can you cover up your skeleton?’ But he’s been this way since he was born.  In the hospital there were two babies that were over 10lbs, Alfie and a baby girl.   Apart from their weight they had little else […]

3-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce

Today was my right leg’s turn to be operated on. And yes, I am talking it up.  Not exactly an operation as such, just continuing on with the sclerotherapy and ligations I had last week on my left leg. After an ultrasound where my leg was marked-up I went into the operating room.  The surgeon […]

Festive Fruit and Nut Cake and…Morning Drama

Do you all have morning drama?  We have it in spades. This morning Arabella had a very important interview.  She had to be in the city and ready for her appointment by 9.30am.  That shouldn’t be a challenge.  But when she woke, first she had to go out for a takeaway coffee and then she […]

Homemade Vegan Bread

Recently I have been up at Scoop buying everything I need to make my Christmas cakes.  And when I say I’ve ‘been up at Scoop’ I mean I’ve made 10 Christmas Cakes and two festive Christmas cakes. Because of my many and frequent visits, I’ve noticed that they’re selling jars filled with a mix of […]